Show the true cost of driving and carbon emissions in Google Maps.

Millions of people use Google Maps every day for directions and route-finding. It is by far the most popular platform for these purposes.

Within Google Maps one can find directions by car, walking, cycling, transit and more. It will also include the estimated time for each transport method. Even some ride-sharing services, scooter, and bike rentals are shown within the results. Many of these give estimated prices for fares or rental fees.

One large shortcoming of this information is that driving is treated as "free." It is anything but. Causing congestion, pollution, and emitting large amounts of carbon, driving, especially in a private automobile by oneself is a huge contributor to transportation's large share of carbon emissions. 14% of all global emissions.Particulate and other pollution directly affect health. Air pollution is estimated to kill more people annually than automobile collisions. Climate change is estimated to kill millions more through more severe weather events, droughts, flooding, and more. In addition, it will cost trillions in lost productivity, mortality, real estate, and more.

Google Maps should give the average cost of driving based on country, with the option to personalize those costs based on the user's vehicle, if they choose to provide that information.

Additionally, Google should begin including the greenhouse gas equivalents or the Social Cost of Carbon for each trip. This information can be provided either by the EPA or other organizations such as National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Each trip should give this amount, with a user's total tracked emissions shown as well (if the user chooses to store that information.)Additionally, options to rank transportation choices by carbon-intensity rather than just time would be helpful.

Without a national or global carbon tax, we must have other means to make up for the lack of pricing signals in our daily choices. Providing this information up front each time one looks for directions or route-finding, will better enable all individuals to make sound, ethical decisions.